Picking Your Perfect Cat

If you have decided that a cat is the right pet for you then you may think that the decision making process is complete, but in fact you are still at the very beginning. Cats, like humans, are all very different and selecting one to suit your needs and lifestyle is vitally important as it will require the commitment of your love, care and attention for anything upwards of 10 years. Here is our guide to helping you pick your perfect cat.

Kitten or adult cat?

Many people instinctively choose kittens over adult cats and this is largely due to their childlike cuteness, curiosity and playful behavior. However they may not realize that they need a great deal of supervision, patience, attention and training. Leave unsupervised kittens in your sitting room for any period of time and you could be faced with a surprising level of destruction! It is also difficult to know exactly what personality they may develop once they outgrow their kitten traits. She may become a docile companion or she may continue to be a mischievous and energetic ball of fur.

It is also important to remember that if you are bringing a kitten into a home with very young children you will need to provide an added amount of supervision. This is because your child may be exhibiting the same curiosity and mischievous behavior as your kittens and will be unlikely to give them the gentle touch that they require.

By comparison, older cats may have outgrown some of that initial cuteness, but the typical behaviors that they exhibit after around the age of one will be a reliable indicator of their regular temperament.

Short vs long hair

Responsible pet owners always make sure that their pets are well groomed and in the case of longer hair animals this can prove to be a considerable commitment. Long fur will need to be brushed at least once per day to prevent matting and so if you opt for a long haired cat then you will need to ensure that you have sufficient time to dedicate to daily grooming.

Not all cats like bring groomed and if your cat doesn’t then you may have to enlist the services of a professional groomer. However if your cat is one that loves to be pampered then she will come running as soon as she sees her brush!

Personality and pure breed vs mixed breed

While pure breed cats tend to conform to what is known as a ‘breed standard’, meaning that you can predict their expected physical and behavioral characteristics based on breed type, each animal is still unique. Many people believe that purchasing a pure breed will not only guarantee its temperament, but will also ensure it has good health, but sadly this is not the case. Many pure breed animals suffer with genetic health problems due to inter-breeding.

It is also possible to estimate the physical and behavioral traits of mixed breed cats based upon the combination of breeds used to create it. For example combining two short haired, highly active breeds will be extremely likely to produce another short-haired highly active cat.

As we have said, whether pure or mixed breed, each cat is unique and will require handling to suit their personality. Some are sedentary, some are active, some love to be stroked and handled and others will only come to you for petting when it suits them. If you are looking for a companion cat then you would ideally be looking for a sedentary and tactile cat, whereas if you are looking for a cat to play with children then you should aim for an active breed.

Breed	Hair	Activity	Noise	Grooming
American Wirehair	Short	Medium	Low	More than once per week
Balinese	Long	High	High	More than once per week
Bengal	Short	High	High	Less than once a week
Bombay	Short	High	High	Less than once a week
Burmese	Short	High	High	Less than once a week
Chinchilla	Long	Low	Low	Daily
Exotic Shorthair	Short	Low	Low	Once Per Week
Japanese Bobtail (Long)	Long	Medium	Medium	Once Per Week
Japanese Bobtail (Short)	Short	Medium	Medium	Less than once a week
La Perms Long Hair	Long	Medium	Medium	Once per week
La Perms Short Hair	Short	Medium	Medium	Once per week
Maine Coon	Long	Medium	Low	More than once a week
Munchkin	Long	Medium	Low	Once per week
Ocicat	Short	High	Medium	Less than once a week
Oriental Short Hair	Short	High	High	Less than once a week
Persian	Long	Low	Low	Daily
Pixiebob Long Hair	Long	Medium	Low	Once per week
Pixibob Short Hair	Short	Medium	Low	Less than once a week
Ragdoll	Long	Low	Low	Daily
Savannah	Short	High	Medium	Less than once a week
Siamese	Short	High	High	Less than once a week
Showshoe	Short	High	Medium	Less than once a week
Somali	Medium	High	Medium	Once per week
Tokinese	Short	High	High	Less than once a week

We hope that you have found this article helpful and wish you every success in picking your perfect cat.

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P M.

On vacation and my pup got bit by something, causing a lump and swelling. Office scheduled me quickly (next morning). Vet was kind and gentle with my... little girl. Gave her a shot of cortisone that helped. Office Staff was extremely friendly. Pricing was a bit higher than our usual vet, but much more reasonable than typical animal hospitals @$125. Would definitely go again for treatment if needed.read more

Mary Jo D.

My dog is very anxious. The staff did well with him and our visit went better than I expected. Dr. Rainey and the rest of the staff are very kind and... take the time to listen to any concerns.read more

Melissa M.

My kitten Martica is my emotional support cat and is very dear to me. He is 11mo. Old. Country side animal hospital has taken care of him for me all... his lil life. Very specific though he has been treated on 2 seperate occasion for illnesses once for a double severe ear infection..Dr. Rainey aka The Magic Man had him feeling better and healed in no time flat and helped us eliminate his allergen. Also more serious he was also treated for aspirations pneumonia w complications from meditation he recieved at blue pearl hospital after hours treatment Dr.Rainey kept him overnight gave him fluids and ran every necessary test gave him shots he could tolerate very well fixed his diet and saved Marticas life. He also provides safe cat treats cat toothpaste and brush and his shampoo right in the office for easy convenience. Magic Man aka Dr. Rainey and his staff..ms. Candy. Ms. Sophia and everyone there are the greatest! I would NEVER take my Martica anywhere but there i learned the hard way..but Dr.Rainey saved the day as always!!read more

Heather D.

Dr. Rainey saved my kitty Bandit. No other vet has been as caring, attentive or professional and I've taken him to SIX vets in town. Most wouldn't... help him, tried to put him to sleep!!I will never go anywhere else with my fur babies Dr. Rainey is literally the best vet in the greater Louisville area. I'm always in and out on time as well and the prices are very affordable, especially because he accepts Care Credit. Thank you Dr. Rainey and his nice staff. LT Dan Bandit is able to eat and have his life back thanks to you!!!!!read more

candice L.

We just moved to the area and hadn't established care with a vet yet. My English Bulldog had an urgent need to be seen and I brought her in to... Countryside Animal Hospital. Dr. Rainey was quick to assess that she needed emergent care at a vet hospital and recommended the best facility that could meet her needs quickly. Once released I took her back to help manage the chronic condition she was diagnosed with and couldn't be happier with his expertise! She is now doing well and his recommendations solved an issue that we didn't realize she had for years. I highly recommend Countryside Animal Hospital!read more

Dona K.

Dr Rainey and staff are wonderful. My dog has had a recurrent ear infection, I have been to numerous vets and for the first time in a few years my... dog is infection free. Thank you Countryside!!!read more

Ashley W.

Bailey loves her new diet! It has stopped her stomach issues and she is thinner and full of life! She eats salmon, green beans and sweet potatoes!!... This makes sense now more than ever with everything I have seen with dogs sharing similar dna to humans.read more

mary W.

Very reasonable surgical prices, kind compatonate staff. Truly cares about my senior dogs health and wellbeing! Just moved here from out of state... this is for sure my new vet!read more

Rhonda F.

Rhonda FullerWe sought out a good animal vet and staff due to the severe abuse from Covid and the restrictions when we lost our last dog due to vet... clinic abuse. We prayed feverently and found Countryside Animal Hospital. We realize the vet does not perform major surgeries and this has been very important to us due to the ongoing Covid restrictions from other vet offices. We like the smaller clinic environment, and the assistant Amy is so good with our dogs. We appreciate Dr. Rainey and his care for our dogs.read more

Patricia O.

Dr. Rainey is wonderful!He is quality over quantity and was very present at our consultation for our dog's health.He explained what he would be... doing, why he had to do it, and how he came to the conclusions.He educated us so that we didn't require blind faith but we understood the what's, the why's, the when's and the how's.He gave clear instructions with a calm bedside manner.I thought the costs were a bit pricey but about the same as any other vet.He didn't try to upsale us on unnecessary things.This visit was thumbs up!A+read more

Glisseal !

Very expensive. Nice people but they insist that every dog needs certain things and you know very well none of your previous dogs never needed it.... Location is very convient.read more

C P

Dr Rainey and staff are incredible! The best veterinarian clinic that I’ve ever frequented.I have a deep respect and appreciation for Dr Rainey and... the way that he approaches my pet’s health with compassion, merging East and West philosophies, delivering premium care for my Marley, that’s individualized and specific to his healthcare needs.It’s more than a clinic, it’s a hospital staffed with people who genuinely love and care for animals. Dr Rainey performed extensive surgery on my dog and it’s amazing how quickly Marley is healing and recovering even with other comorbities.Everyone at the office has been so kind and offered me a level of peace even through some difficult decision-making regarding my dog’s care. Their medical expertise is top notch. Honestly, I’ve never been to a vet that I trusted more.So if you’re looking for a holistic approach to your pet’s healthcare needs, you’ve found the right place. I am beyond grateful that I found them.The drive from Louisville is nothing compared to the level of peace they will offer you.They’re just wonderful. ❤️Contessa Pantojaread more

Robert O.

Everyone there is very helpful, friendly, and professional. I believe you are very thorough in the care you give SanDee. The only drawback is this... care is a bit expensive.read more

Barbara G.

We took our GS in for a second opinion and got more information than ever before. Dr Rainey gave us some herbal supplements along with a pain med... and it had worked wonders on our girl. She’s acting like her playful self again.read more

Lola H.

I have been bringing my baby to Dr. Rainey since she was 8 weeks old. She still has a tiny bit of anxiety when she gets back to the exam room but the... staff and Dr. Rainey are great with her. She leaves there just as happy as when she arrived. I feel his prices are fair and affordable and Dr. Rainey and his staff have always been friendly and inviting every time we have come in.read more

Cassandra P.

Dr. Rainey and his staff are always so nice and sweet. Very caring and they treat my fur babies like there own. Highly Recommend them. You can't... find any better vet than them. I lost my Companion of 13 years (Snuggles) and they were so supportive and sent there sympathy. ❤️ I truly can't put there practice into words. Absolutely love this Place and all the Staffread more

Robin C.

Wonderful service, very acknowledgeable and kind to my animals. Dr Rainey is a great veterinarian and I trust him with my animals. He is now my... veterinarianread more

Joel W.

These guys are by far the best vet I have been to in my 30 years of having pets… they are EXTREMELY accommodating, and very reasonably priced… I... would DEFINITELY recommend them to anyone looking for a vet!!!read more

Larry V.

We took our new Barbet puppy for his first Veterinarian visit this week, which was awesome. The staff was friendly, and Dr. Rainey shared much good... information about puppy health. It has a small-town country feel, and I love that!! I look forward to having them care for my new Barbet, Moses, for a long time. Thanks to everyone at Countryside for making us feel comfortable.read more

Cory C.

The team here is nothing short of amazing. They are caring, professional, courteous, and take pride in what they do. They are great with our... animals, and we won't take them anywhere else. So glad we found Countryside.read more

Audrey B.

We took our new fur babies, Alleigh and Rosco, for their first shots and a general check-up. I was very impressed with the staff and the cleanliness... of the facility. The staff was very thorough and kind. I highly recommend them.read more

Renee B.

I brought my dog for acupuncture treatments Everyone there is very nice and friendly . Dr Rainey takes time to explain things in detail. He was... even able to catch a kidney issue that we had no idea she had.read more

Rosemary G.

Dr. Rainey has correctly diagnosed our cat, Diva, with two different conditions this year alone. He has given Diva the proper treatment and she's... responded very well. We are so fortunate that he is able to be Divas doctor, and the staff there has treated her so well. We won't go anywhere else.read more

Chaz F.

The staff at Countryside are so kind and take excellent care of our pets! They truly go above and beyond to make sure our pets are comfortable during... visits and help answer any questions we have.read more

Valerie K.

Our lab was attacked by a pit at Morgan Park. 3" laceration, torn ACL. We went unscheduled to Dr Rainey. They took us right in. He made a rapid... accessment. Printed out details and estimate of what he may have to do. We agreed with his judgement left our lab over nite. Next day Doc calls. "Looks like minor surgery on the wound, pain pills and antibiotic, he should be fine." He was a new dog to us! Not only was Doc Rainey accurate with his diagnosis but he did exactly what he said he would do and charged exactly what he estimated it to be. So refreshing to have such an experienced vet with integrity. Great caring staff as well, thank you! Brian, Val & Lakerread more

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